Nick Shirley: A Franchisee Case Study

A long-standing franchisee with us here at Premier Education, Nick has grown with the
business and is proud to offer services that make a difference to children, every single day.
He gives us some valuable insights into his career journey and what it’s like to be a Premier
Education franchisee.

“My journey started 20 years ago, when I was a part time activity professional. I grew within
that role and met with the franchise recruiter, and instantly knew that it was something I
wanted to do.”

Although Nick’s original passion was for sport, he knew that he also wanted to have a
positive impact on children, and with a Premier Education franchise, he could do just that.

“Of course, over the years we have evolved into a business that’s far more than just a sport
coaching company, we’ve moved into the childcare sector but still with a strong emphasis on
sport and physical activity.

“We really do offer a wide range of activities, with children’s health and wellbeing at the
centre, and I’m very proud of that. I’ve been a franchisee for 17 years, starting with one
territory, but I now run four territories and I’m really happy with the reach we are having
within those areas.”

Nick is quick to credit the support received from the team at Premier Education’s
headquarters..

“The tools provided by HQ allow us to run the business effectively. We’re lucky to have
access to specialists through partnerships with companies such as B11, to allow our
products to be the highest quality possible.

“Within wraparound care we are now one of the leading providers thanks to the support
we’ve received.

“It’s fantastic knowing that we’re not only successful in terms of venues, but that we are
operating safely, effectively and compliantly.”

So what does success mean to Nick?

“The fact that we are positively impacting children every day and that all of our staff want to
be there, working hard to provide wonderful experiences that help to shape what their
lifestyles will potentially look like, is all I can ask for! We spend a lot of time with these
children, so our impact can’t be underestimated.”

Personally, though, being able to build a more flexible lifestyle has been Nick’s priority.

“Being able to give my team more control has been ideal, as it means that I can spend more
time with my family. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the support from Premier
Education through the thorough processes and plans that allow us to execute the business
plan effectively.”

Of course, a key benefit of being a franchisee is that although you are responsible for your
territories, you’re never alone. Whether it be from HQ or from fellow franchisees, support is
always there.

“The best thing about working with Premier Education is having access to a network of like-
minded people. It’s great knowing that you’re not alone – you’re all facing the same
challenges and whenever you need some advice or even some fresh ideas, the network is
always on-hand to help.

“It’s also fantastic being able to draw upon the different skills at HQ – not only do they assist
with a lot of the administrative tasks, but they are proactive in helping us develop and move
forward, enabling us to achieve success no matter what.”